The Mavericks have "ceased playing the national anthem before home games this season and do not plan to play it moving forward, a decision made" by team Owner Mark Cuban. None of 13 preseason and regular-season games at American Airlines Center, where fans have begun to return, "have featured the anthem before the game." The move was "previously not announced or explained internally." An NBA spokesperson said, “Under the unique circumstances of this season, teams are permitted to run their pregame operations as they see fit.” While demonstrations during the anthem have become commonplace, the Mavs are "believed to be the first professional North American sports team to cease playing the anthem before games with fans in recent years" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/9).
Cuban said, “It was my decision, and I made it in November” (N.Y. TIMES, 2/10). Cuban "made the decision after consulting" with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver (ESPN.com, 2/9). This is "not a first," as during the franchise’s "first 16 seasons, it played God Bless America before games rather than the National Anthem" (TWITTER.com, 2/9).
Note: In THE ATHLETIC's story breaking the news, there were 250 user comments at presstime (THE DAILY).
